Sole



L. M. OAKLEY March 2, 1937.

SOLE

Filed Oct. 31, 1936 INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOLE Application October 31,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to soles for footwear. It is an object of the invention to provide a combined sole and heel having an arch support formed integrally therewith, which said arch support is so formed as to conform to the natural contour of the normal arch of the foot. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the sole. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the outside of the sole.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the inside of the sole.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing the sole comprises 20 a ball portion I, and a heel portion 2 of greater thickness than the ball portion. Intermediate the ball portion I and the heel portion 2 at the inside of the sole is a relatively narrow marginal portion 3 of substantially uniform width which V 25 tapers downwardly from the heel portion to the ball portion so that when the sole is attached to a shoe, a substantially flat surface is provided along the inside of the foot.

Extending laterally from the tapering portion' 3 is a convex portion 4 which is shaped to conform to the natural contour of the normal arch of the foot and thus provide support for the arch.

1936, Serial No. 108,504

Thus the said convex portion merges into the portion 3 along one side and at the other side merges into the sole body along a line which forms a substantial semi-circle 5, one end of which lies adjacent the breast 6 of the heel, and the other end of which lies adjacent the juncture of the tapering portion 3 with the ball portion I. The surface of the convex portion slopes gently downward from the tapering portion 3 toward the line 5.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claim.

I claim as my invention:

A sole for footwear comprising a ball portion, a heel portion of greater thickness than the ball portion, a shank portion between said portions, a relatively narrow marginal portion of substantially uniform width extending along the inside of the shank from said heel portion to said ball portion and tapering in thickness from said heel portion to said ball portion, part of said shank portion along the outside of the sole being the same thickness as said ball portion, and a convex portion extending laterally from said tapering portion, and sloping gently downward from said tapering portion to merge with the outside portion of the shank along a line which forms a substantial semi-circle, said convex portion conforming substantially to the natural contour of the normal arch of the foot.

LAURENCE M. OAKLEY. 

